Road surface disintegrator



Jlln 19, 1956 H T. PETERSEN ROAD SURFACE DISINTEGRATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 6, 1955 il Q om wh. l@ QQ lvm. hm \Ir @MY 7 QQ @w fw e HENRY 7 PETERSE/V y/ im mm. mm.

/NVENTOR HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WOR/PEL 8 HERZ/G ATTORNEYS June 19, 1956 H. T. PETERSEN ROAD SURFACE DISINTEGRATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1953 HENRY 72 PETERSE'N /NVENTO/P HUEBNER, aEEH/ E/P,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G ATTORNEK may June 19, 1956 H. T. PETERSEN ROAD SURFACE DISINTEGRATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 6, 1953 HENRY 7. PETERSEN /NVENTOR HUEBNE'R, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G ATTORNEYS BY MM RGAD SURFACE DISENTEGRATQR Henry T. Petersen, Fresno, Calif. Application November 6, 1953, Serial No. 39),e25 13 Claims. (Ci. 2629) This invention relates broadly t road reworking implements, as distinguished from paving apparatus, and is more particularly directed to that general class of implements which are of service in the repair of worn `or impaired surfaces of established roads or other like surfaces.

Various types of road scrapers and chisels have been used on established roads to smooth rough surfaces thereof or to score unduly slick surfaces. Such devices are generally serviceable only in the dressing of the road Asurface and not in instances where, due to wear, cracks, chuck holes, or other serious damage, it becomes necessary to dig up and to remove lthe entire surface layer which zin many instances is quite thick. Manual labor and picks or other hand tools have long been used to break up road surfaces and improved tools have also been used for this purpose, including various types of pneumatic drills and hammers and several kinds of irnpact or percussion devices of the pile driver type.

By these time consuming and costly methods the old road surface is merely broken into relatively sizable pieces or chunks which are unsuitable for reuse in the repairing of the road and frequently must be hauled away as useless debris.

Prior to the present invention and insofar as l am aware, there has not been produced any apparatus or implement functioning to break up the surface material of an old established road to its full depth in a single operation and to disintegrate such broken surface material for reuse in a subsequent rebuilding of the road.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an implement particularly serviceable for use in the breaking up and disintegrating to reusuable conditions7 the surface material of old established roads or other similar areas.

Another object is to provide an implement capable of breaking the surface material of an old established road and of comminuting such broken material directly on the roadbed to a condition for subsequent reuse.

Another object is to provide an implement capable of breaking and disintegrating for subsequent use, the surface material of established gravel, macadam, asphalt, oil, or other similar hard packed roads or surfaces.

Another object is to provide a wheeled implement having digging and disintegrating elements capable of continuously digging and disintegrating the surface material of established roads and the like while being pulled or propelled over said road, and to provide on such Wheeled implement, elevator means operable by an attendant accurately to regulate the depth of penetration of said elements or to elevate them to an idle position.

A further object is to provide a support frame in a device of the character described which makes possible a leveraging action in initiating and maintaining surfacepenetration.

Other objects and advantages will .become more fully `apparent from the following description of `theaccompanyrectangular rear frame 10,

Patented June 19, 1956 a part of this `disclosure and embodiments of the invention.

ing drawings which form which illustrate preferred In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the road surface disintegrator of the present invention, showing the implement in one position of operation with its forward rollers lowered and with its rearward roller raised.

Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation, showing all of the rollers lowered to ground working positions.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the implement of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the front end thereof.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a second form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The road surface disintegrator of the present invention, described in general terms, includes a wheeled chassis adapted for earth traversing movement when coupled to a tractor or other suitable source of motivating power.

Described in greater detail, the illustrated implement includes a substantially horizontal somewhat elongated said rear frame being transversely journaled on axially aligned rear trailing ground wheels il and formed to provide opposed side rails 12 and connecting front land rear end rails 13-and 14, respectively. The aft end portion of each side rail 12 is formed to provide an upright arm `15 `and the medial portion of Ythe `rear end rail 14 is provided with a similar upright arm 16. in the upper .ends of these three upright arms is journaled a transverse rear actuating shaft 17 which is restrained against endwise movement by opposite thrust .collars 18 rixed to said shaft and bearings against the respective arms 15.

A front frame, designated in general by the reference numeral 2l), is of bifurcated yoke form in plan, having opposite side arms 21 pivoted at 22'to'the side rails 12 of the rear frame 1t) and extending upwardly and forwardly to a position above the front end of said rear frame where said side arms are connected by a cross beam 23. At the medial portion of the cross beam 23 and projecting from its inner side is a lug 24 and in said lug and thetwo side arms 21 is journaled aftransverse front actuating shaft 25 which is restrained against-endwise movement by opposite-thrust collars 26 lixed to said shaft and bearing against the respective arms 21.

The vforwardportion of the front frame 20 extends forwardly from the medial portion of the cross beam 23 and terminates in a dependent leg 27 supported through a fifth-wheel mounted on Vsteer-able ground wheels -29 and .providedwith a draft tongue A30 kserving as a means for steering the implement and for connecting it to a tractor or the like.

The skeleton construction .of the rear frame 10 provides an elongated rectangular central opening through which the ground Working elements of theimplement extend and these elements, in the first illustrated embodiment of the invention, comprise a series .of toothed parallel ground rollers 31, 32 and33 which are carried by a substantially horizontal rdller frame, designated generally by the reference numeral '34. This roller frame 34 is formed to provide opposite side rails 35 transversely pivoted at 36 to the forwardportion of the rear frame 10, and an end rail 37 connecting the aft ends of said side rails 15, the roller frame thus ybeing disposed in overlapping relation relativeto the rear frame. It is to be understood that the'term overlapping as used herein, refers to the overlapping appearance of the portions of the frame when viewed from theside. It does not mean that'the portionsof .the framezreferred to as overlapping need overlay or be vertically aligned in whole or in part. In fact, they do not overlay in the illustrative form shown.

The rollers 31, 32 and 33 are transversely disposed in the roller frame 34 to project through the central opening of the rear frame 10 and are journaled in said roller frame on axles 3S, said axles being relatively spaced longitudinally in the roller frame in a common plane.

The respective rollers 31, 32 and 33 are each provided with a multiplicity of teeth which terminate in a common cylindrical surface coaxial to their respective roller. The teeth 40 of the front roller 3l and the tceth 4l of the second or intermediate roller 32 are of similar shape and the teeth 42 of the rear roller 33 are of a different shape for purposes soon to become apparent. Each of the teeth 4G and 41 of the respective rollers 31 and 32 has a radial shank and a sharp terminal end which is bent angularly in the forward rotational direction of its roller, while the teeth 43 of the rear roller 33 are fiat radially disposed teeth arranged in planes normal to the axis of their respective roller and having rounded terminal ends.

With particular reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that the teeth of the roller 31, 32 and 33 are arranged in axially spaced circumferential rows with the rows of each roller axially alternating with those of the adjacent rollers, and with further reference to Figs. l and 2 it will be observed that the rollers are relatively spaced at such intervals as to cause the rows of teeth of each roller to intermesh between the corresponding rows of adjacent rollers.

While the rows of teeth of the several rollers do overlap and intermesh axially with those of adjacent rollers, said rollers have no driving contact with each other but are each freely and independently rotatable on its own axis. However, due entirely to the forward operational travel of the implement on a road surface or the like and to the forceful contact of the roller teeth with such road surface, the several rollers are rotated in unison and for this reason they are in fact trailing rollers and are so termed herein.

Essentially, all three of the rollers 31, 32 and 33 are disintegrating rollers in that they all contribute to the disintegratio-n or comminution of the road surface material. The front roller 31 which iirst attacks the road surface may aptly be termed a primary digging roller, in that its sharp teeth 40 pierce, pry and break up the road surface material, in much the same manner as would be done manually with an ordinary hard pick. The second roller 32 next attacks those portions of the road surface not under direct attack by the first roller 31 and may aptly be termed a secondary digging roller. The third or rear roller 33 is essentially a final pulverizing roller.

Describing now the means employed for adjusting the series of disintegrating rollers in relation to the road surface, l provide a front elevator means connected to the forward end of the rear frame and a rear elevator means connected to the aft end of the roller frame 34. Although various specific types of elevator means may be employed for these purposes, it is at the present time preferred to use elevator means of the winch and cable type which, in practice, l have found to be very satisfactory. As illustrated in the drawings, the front ele vator means comprises a pair of duplicate Winches 50 fixed on the front actuating shaft and a pair of cables 51 associated therewith, each of said cables being secured at one end to its associated winch and then wound around said winch in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. l and 2, the depending ends of said cables being connected at 52 to the forward end of the rear frame 10. To rotate the actuating shaft 25 with its associated winches 50, there is provided an actuating drum 53 xed on said shaft and an actuating cable 54, said cable being secured at one end to the drurn 53 then wound around said drum in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The cable 54 then extends forwardly to the tractor (not shown) where it is connected in the usual manner to a power driven winch or other similar eans. The rear elevator means is similar in construction and operation to the front elevator means above described and comprises a pair of duplicate Winches fixed on the rear actuating shaft 17 and a pair of cables 6l associated therewith, the depending ends of said cables being connected at 62 to the aft end of the roller frame 34. An actuating drum 63 is fixed on the actuating shaft 17 and an actuating cable 64 is associated therewith in the same manner as the actuating cable 54 is associated with the actuating drum 53 of the front elevator means. The cable 64 also extends forwardly to the tractor where it is connected to an independent power driven winch or similar means. The actuating cables S4 and 64 pass over small idler pulleys 65 disposed on opposite sides of thc leg 27 of the front frame 20.

A weight 65 carried on the forward end of the rear frame 10 assists in keeping the rollers in forceful contact with the road surface while the implement is in use.

It will be evident that by drawing forward on the cables 54 and 64, the cables 51 and 61 will be drawn upwardly and opposite ends of the roller frame 34 correspondingly elevated, as shown in dash line in Fig. l. This is useful in ,elevating the rollers from engagement with the earth or a road surface, as for going to and from an area of operation. Conversely, slackening of the cables 54 and 64 correspondingly lowers opposite end portions of the roller frame 34 to return the rollers to engagement with a selected Working surface.

The significance of the frame structure and the elevational control, however, is greater than appears evident upon simple joint elevation of the rollers to and from working position. For example, if an extremely hard surface is to be pulverized, the cable S4 is slackened to lower the cable 51 so that the rear frame 10 is forwardly declined. With the rear frame in such position, the cable 64 is slackened to lower the rearward end portion of the roller frame 34 sufliciently to bring the teeth 40 of the forwardmost roller 31 into ground engagement. In such condition, the weights of the rollers 32 and 33 act through lever arms having a mechanical advantage over the forward roller equal to the differences between their spacing from the shaft 36 and the spacing of the forward roller from said shaft. This permits the imposition of great force downwardly on the forward roller to assure adequate piercing action by the teeth 40. inasmuch as the shaft 36, constituting the fulcrum for the roller frame 34 is held downwardly only by the weight of the forward portion of the rear frame 10, the portion of the front frame 20 imposed thereon and the weight 66, the front roller may rise sufficiently to traverse an -unyielding obstruction even when so levered into earth engagement.

Somewhat similarly, the forward end portion of the rear frame 10 may be raised to a forwardly inclined .position and by lowering the rearward end portion of the roller frame 34, the teeth 42 of the back roller 33 caused to engage the ground while the rollers 31 and 32 with their teeth 4t) and 41 are carried free thereof. ln such condition, the weights of the rollers 31 and 32 urge the back roller 33 downwardly but with a mechanical disadvantage. Thus, it is possible to achieve a greater downward thrust on the front roller than on the rear roller so as to effect its more difcult function of initial penetration.

Second form T he second form of the present invention, illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, is generally similar to thc embodiment shown in Figs. l to 5, and includes as anA added feature, a weight frame formed to provide opposite side rails 71 connected at their forward ends by a relatively heavy weight 72 forming the end rail of said frame. The aft ends of the side rails 71 are transversely pivoted at 73 to the respective upright arms 1S of the rear frame and each side rail .is provided a series of relatively spaced aligned bolt holes 74. A pair of transversely aligned brackets 7S are detachably mounted on the respective side rails 71, andas shown in Fig. 7, each of said brackets have opposed side plates 76 :between the dependent ends of which is journaled a double-flanged roller 77. The plates 76 of each bracket are disposed on opposite sides of the respective side rail 71 and are clamped thereon by a pair of bolts 78 passed through a pair of the bolt holes 74 and secured by nuts 79. When the bracket is thus clamped in place its roller 77 rests upon the aligned side rails 35 of the roller frame 34. The weight frame 70 thus functions as a weighted lever arm whose weight 72 exercises a downward `thrust on the roller frame 34 with a mechanical advantage adjustable by the positioning of the brackets 75 and their rollers 77 longitudinally of the side rails. It will be evident that when the rollers 77 are moved rearwardly on the side rails 71 for engagement with the rearward end portion of the roller frame 34, the mechanical advantages of the weight 72 in thrusting downwardly on the roller frame will be vastly increased. Further, if it is desired to increase this mechanical advantage and to add to it the weights of the rollers 32 and 33 in thrusting downwardly on the forward roller 31 only, this can be accomplished in the manner previously described by lowering the forward end portion of the rear frame 10.

Operation When the above describedimplements are in storage or are enroute either to or from locations of use, the respective frames thereof are positioned Vto maintain the disintegrating rollers 31, 32 and 33 at such height -as to provide a substantial ground clearance between said rollers and the surface upon which the implements rest or over which they are traveled. The elevating .of the frames is achieved by drawing forwardly on the cables 54 and 64. In the second form of the invention, the raising action is made easier by the insertion of a block or spacer, not shown, between the weights 72 and 66 so that the forward end of the weight frame 70 is raised by elevating the forward end of the rear frame 10.

In conditioning said implements for use, one, or both, of their two elevator means are actuated to adjust the respective frames and thus to level or to tilt the roller frame to dispose the disintegrating rollers in a manner best suited to the job at hand. By such adjustments the rear frame 10 and the roller frame 34 may be leveled or angled relative to the road surface at any desired elevation to equalize or graduate the depth of penetration of the respective rollers 31, 32 and 33. yIn Fig. 2 of the drawings the rear frame 10 and the roller frame 34 are shown leveled to horizontal positions which produces a uniform penetration of the three rollers and Fig. l shows the roller frame 34 forwardly inclined to produce a graduated degree of penetration of the three-rollers.

It will at once be quite obvious to those skilled in'this art, that this arrangement places under direct and accurate control of the attendant, a relatively wide degree of adjustment of the disintegrating roller as is necessary successfully to cope with the many dierent conditions encountered in road work of the character herein referred to, and that, such adjustments may be varied at will during the working travel of the implement.

With particular reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the relative disposition of the rollers and their relation to the Vroad 'surface define therebetween intermediate pyramid-shaped throats, which are indicated by the reference numerals 80 and 81, and which are closed at their apices by the axially internleshing rows of roller teeth to such an extent that only the very small constituents of the road material could, in any event, pass upwardly between the rows of teeth of adjacent rollers,

Since the rollers are trailing rollers which revolve independently of each other, it will be evident that', as' they roll over the ground, the teeth 40 of the roller 31 will travel upwardly through the throat while `the teeth 41 of the adjacent roller 32 will travel downwardly through said throat. in like manner the teeth 41 of the -roller'32 and the teeth 42 of the roller 33 will travel in similar reverse directions as they pass through the vthroat 81. Such reverse travel of the teeth of the several rollers with respect to the intermediate throats 80 and 81, is indicated by arrows in Fig. 2.

As a disintegratingtooth of the present invention travels forwardly, the road material dug up and broken into pieces or chunks thereby is carried into the throat v80 where such kpieces are immediately subjected to the disintegrating action of the reversely traveling teeth 40 and 41 of the two rollers 31 and 32. In this disintegrating action .the upwardly traveling teeth 40 attack the forward sides of such pieces or chunks and the downwardly traveling teeth 4l attack the aft sides thereof, the teeth having a chipping action on the broken material andthe reverse travel of said teeth tending to produce a rolling and tumbling of the pieces constantly to present .to the teeth new points of attack. When suciently reduced in size some of the pieces are thrown upwardly in said throat where they are lsubjected to the shearing action of the intermeshing rows of teeth.

Such of the smaller'pieces as escape this first disintegrat` ing action .combine vwith the road material dug up by the teeth 41 of the second roller 32 and therewith are sub- -jected to a similar disintegrating action taking place .in the second throat 51. All of the teeth of the several rollers function .as .disintegrating and shearing elements and vas they 4pass through the intermeshing zones they cooperate to clear or clean each other of such of `the softer road materials that tend to cling to the teeth.

In addition to .cooperating with the teeth 41 of the last digging roller 32 in the disintegrating action taking place in the last throat 8l, the rounded teeth 42 of the rear roller 33 roll over, crush, and slice the disintegrated material on .the road bed. This `reconditions the disintegrated road material effectively and speedily and at a great saving in .cost of labor as well as in direct savings eifected by rendering it unnecessary to purchase and transport new road material.

The road surface thus reconditioned yby the road surface disintegrator of the present invention is in `excellent condition for such .subsequent steps or operations as may .be necessary or `desirable to complete the building or repairing of the road, which subsequentsteps or operations form no part of the present disclosure.

While the specific embodiments herein disclosed are admirably adapted to vfulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that itis notmy intention to confine'the present invention to such embodiments since it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms of '-acceptable character.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent is:

v1. .A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rectangular rear frame transversely journaled on rear trailing ground wheels and having a central rectangular opening, a `front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame ,between the Vopposite Vends thereof, said front frame extending'forwardly beyondthe front endof said rear frame and supported by frontsteerable iground'wheels, a rectangular roller. frame transversely pivoted to the forward -end portions of said rear frame and extended `rearwardly therefrom, a series of parallel toothed ground disintegrating trailingrollers transversely journaled in saidroller frame and projecting through said central opening in the rear frame, front elevator means connecting the forward end of said rear frame to said front frame and operable to level or longitudinally'to tilt said-rear frame relative to the ground, and rearelevator means :connecting the aft end of said roller Aframe to said rear frame and operable to level or to longitudinally tilt said roller frame relative to said rear frame.

2. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rectangular rear frame transversely journaled on rear trailing ground wheels and having a central rectangular opening and an upper rear portion, a front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame between the opposite ends thereof, said front frame having an upper medial portion and extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable ground wheels, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted to the forward end portion of said rear frame and extending rearwardly, a series of parallel toothed ground disintegrating trailing rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame and projecting through said central opening in said rear frame, a front winch journaled in said upper portion of the front frame and having an associated cable connected to the forward end of the rear frame, a rear winch journaled in said upper portion of the rear frame and having an associated cable connected to the aft end of the roller frame, and means for seiectively actuating said Winches to level or longitudinally to tilt said frames.

3. A road surface disintegrator having a substantially horizontal elongated rectangular chassis comprising a rear frame transversely journaled on rear trailing wheels, a front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame between the opposite ends thereof, said front frame extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable wheels, and a supplemental frame transversely pivoted on the forward end portion of said rear frame and extending rearwardly, ground disintegrating elements carried by said supplemental frame, front elevator means connecting the forward end of said rear frame to said front frame, rear elevator means connecting the aft end of said supplemental frame to the rear frame, and means for selectively actuating said elevator means elevationally to adjust said frames relative to the ground.

4. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rear frame transversely journaled on rear trailing wheels and having a central opening, a front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame between the ends thereof and extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable wheels, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted on the forward end portion of said rear frame and extending rearwardly, a front elevator means connecting the forward end of said rear frame to said front frame, a rear elevator means connecting the aft end of said roller frame to said rear frame, means for selectively actuating either or both of said elevator means to adjust said frames relative to the ground, and a series of parallel trailing ground rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame and projecting through the central opening in said rear frame, each of said rollers having a multiplicity of ground disintegrating teeth extending therefrom and terminating in a common cylindrical surface concentric to their respective rollers.

5. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rear frame transversely journaled on rear trailing wheels and having a central opening, a front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame between the ends thereof and extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable wheels, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted on the forward end portion of said rear frame and extending rearwardly, a front elevator means connecting the forward end of said rear frame to said front frame, a rear elevator means connecting the aft end of said roller frame to said rear frame, means for selectively actuating either or both of said elevator means to adjust said frames relative to the ground, and a series of parallel trailing ground rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame and projecting through the central opening in said rear frame, each of said rollers having a multiplicity of ground disintegratiug teeth extending therefrom and terminating in a common t 8 imaginary cylindrical surface concentric to their respective rollers, with the teeth of said rollers arranged in axially spaced circumferential rows'and with the rows of each roller axially alternating with those of the adjacent rollers.

6. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rear frame transversely journaled on rear trailing wheels and having a central opening, a front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame between the ends thereof and extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable wheels, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted on the forward end portion of said rear frame and extending rearwardly, a front elevator means connecting the forward end of said rear frame to said front frame, a rear elevator means connecting the aft end of said roller frame to said rear frame, means for selectively actuating either or both of said elevator means to adjust said frames relative to the ground, and a series of parallel trailing ground rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame and projecting through the central opening in said rear frame, each of said rollers having a multiplicity of ground distintegrating teeth extending therefrom and terminating in a common cylindrical plane concentric to their respective rollers, with the teeth of said rollers arranged in axially spaced circumferential rows and with the rows of each roller axially alternating with those of the adjacent rollers, the several rollers being so relatively spaced as to cause the circumferential rows of teeth thereof to overlap and to pass between the rows of the adjacent rollers.

7. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rear frame transversely journaled on rear trailing wheels and having a central opening, a front frame transversely' pivoted on said rear frame between the ends thereof and extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable wheels, a. rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted on the forward end portion of said rear frame and extending rearwardly, a front elevator means connecting the forward end of said rear frame to said front frame, a rear elevatorrneans connecting the aft end of said roller frame to said rear frame, means for selectively actuating either or both of said elevator means to adjust said frames relative to the ground, and a series of parallel trailing ground rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame and projecting through the central opening in said rear frame, each of said rollers having a multiplicity of ground disintegrating teeth extending therefrom and terminating in a common cylindrical plane concentric to their respective rollers, the teeth of each of the forward rollers of said series, each having a radially extending shank and a sharp terminal end bent angularly in the forward rotational direction of its roller, and the teeth of the rear roller of said series being radial teeth having rounded terminal ends.

8. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rear frame transversely journaled on rear trailing wheels and having a central opening, a front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame between the ends thereof and extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable wheels, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted on the forward end portion of said rear frame and extending rearwardly, a front elevator means connecting the forward end of said rear frame to said front frame, a rear elevator means connecting the aft end of said roller frame to said rear frame, means for selectively actuating said elevator means to adjust said frames relative to the ground, and a series of parallel trailing ground rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame and projecting through the central opening in said rear frame, each of said rollers having a multiplicity of ground disintegrating teeth extending therefrom and terminating in a common imaginary cylindrical surface concentric to their respective rollers, with the teeth of said rollers arranged in axially spaced circumferential rows and with the rows of each roller axially alternating with those of the adjacent rollers, the teeth of each of the forward rollers of said series, each having a radially extending shank and a sharp terminal end bent angularly in the forward rotational direction of its roller, and the teeth of the rear roller of sai-d series being radial teeth having rounded terminal ends.

9. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rear frarne transversely journaled on rear trailing wheels and having a central opening, a front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame between the ends thereof and extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable wheels, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted on the forward end portion of said rear frame and extending rearwardly, a front elevator means connecting hte forward end of said rear frame to said front frame, a rear elevator means connecting the aft end of said roller frame to said rear frame, means for selectively actuating either or both of said elevator means to adjust said frames relative to the ground, and a series of parallel trailing ground rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame and projecting through the central opening in said rear frame, each of said rollers having a multiplicity of ground disintegrating teeth extending therefrom and terminating in a common cylindrical plane concentric to their respective rollers, with the teeth of said rollers arranged in axially spaced circumferential rows and with the rows of each roller axially alternating with those of the adjacent rollers, the several rollers being so relatively spaced as to cause the circumferential rows of teeth thereof to overlap and to pass between the rows of the adjacent rollers, the teeth of each of the forward rollers of said series, each having a radially extending shank and a sharp terminal end bent angularly in the forward rotational direction of its roller, and the teeth of the rear roller of said series being radial teeth having rounded terminal ends.

l0. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal rectangular rear frame transversely jourA naled on rear trailing ground wheels and having a central rectangular opening, a front frame transversely pivoted on said rear frame between the opposite ends thereof, said front frame extending forwardly beyond the front end of said rear frame and supported by front steerable ground wheels, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted to the forward end portions of said rear frame and extended rearwardly therefrom, a series of parallel toothed ground disintegrating trailing rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame and projecting through said central opening in the rear frame, front elevator means connecting the forward end of said rear frame to said front frame and operable longitudinally to tilt said rear frame relative to the ground, rear elevator means connecting the aft end of said roller frame to said rear frame and operable longitudinally to tilt said roller frame relative to said rear frame, and a substantially horizontal lever frame pivoted at its aft end to the rear portion of said rear frame extended forwardly above said roller frame and having a front weight end and transversely aligned supporting pressure elements resting upon said roller frame intermediate its ends and longitudinally adjustable to vary the effective mechanical advantage of said lever frame, and means associated with said pressure elements releasable to permit their longitudinal adjustment and functioning to secure them to the lever frame in adjusted positions.

l1. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal elongated rectangular wheel supported chassis frame having a central rectangular opening therein, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted to the forward end portion of the chassis frame and extending rearwardly within said rectangular opening for elevational movement above and below the chassis frame, a series of parallel toothed ground disintegrating trailing rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame to project through said opening in said chassis frame, elevator means connecting the aft end of said roller frame to the chassis frame and operable elevationally to position the roller frame thereby to level and longitudinally to tilt said roller frame, and means for elevationally adjusting the forward end of the chassis frame.

l2. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal elongated rectangular wheel supported chassis frame having a central rectangular opening therein, a rectangular roller frame transversely pivoted to the forward end portion of the chassis frame and extending rearwardly in overlapping relation to said chassis frame, a series of parallel toothed ground disintegrating trailing rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame to project through said opening in said chassis frame, elevator means connecting the aft end of said roller frame to the chassis frame and operable to level and longitudinally to tilt said roller frame, and a substantially horizontal lever frame pivoted at its aft end to the rear portion of said chassis frame extended forwardly above said roller frame and having a front weighted end and transversely aligned supporting pressure elements resting upon said roller frame intermediate its ends and longitudinally adjustable to vary the effective mechanical advantage of said lever frame, and means associated with said pressure elements releasable to permit their longitudinal adjustment and functioning to secure them to the lever frame in adjusted positions.

13. A road surface disintegrator comprising a substantially horizontal elongated rectangular wheel supported chassis frame having a central opening therein, a roller frame transversely pivoted to the forward end portion of the chassis frame and extending rearwardly within said central opening for elevational movement above and below the chassis frame, a series of substantially parallel toothed ground disintegrating trailing rollers transversely journaled in said roller frame to project through said roller frame to the chassis frame and operable elevationally to position the roller frame thereby selectively to level and longitudinally to tilt said roller frame, and a substantially horizontal lever frame having an aft end pivoted to the rear portion of said chassis frame extended forwardly above the roller frame and having a front weighted end, and support elements rested upon the roller frame in supporting relation to the lever frame thereby exercising a downward thrust on the roller frame.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

